Multi-agency partners to hold Facebook chat on doorstep crime

As part of a national campaign to raise awareness of doorstep crime, Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division are to host a Facebook chat event with partners from Trading Standards and NHS Highland Tuesday 29th September The Facebook chat will be hosted on the ‘Highland & Islands Police Division’ Facebook page, with spokespersons, Detective Inspector Peter Mackenzie, Trading Standards Team Leader, Mark McGinty and Laura Gillies, Lead Adviser, Adult Support and Protection, NHS Highland . They will be on hand to answer questions and provide advice on how you can best prevent yourself, a family member, a friend or a neighbour, from becoming a victim to this type of crime. Advice will also be available during the chat to impart safety tips on the topic.

Speaking on the subject, Detective Inspector Mackenzie said: "We have previously hosted a series of successful chat events on our Divisional Facebook page and it's been extremely positive to be able to engage with large numbers of people within the communities throughout the region.

"I would encourage the public to use this opportunity to ask any questions or raise any causes for concern relating to the subject. Even if they don't want to ask any specific questions, they may get some useful tips from just viewing the conversation thread."

Mark McGinty said: "Highland Council Trading Standards are pleased to be partnering both Police Scotland and NHS Highland and playing our part in protecting people in their homes. I look forward to being on hand to answer any questions anyone has in relation to traders calling at their homes and offering to carry out what is usually exterior home maintenance works.

“Quite often we find that the business who has knocked at the door doesn’t have a real trade's person doing the work, or the work is of a poor standard or non-existent, and that this can cause real problems to the property and sometimes at considerable financial cost to the householder.”

"I would encourage the public to use this opportunity to ask any questions they may have about doorstep callers and rogue traders. Just viewing the conversation thread alone may be enough to help prevent you or someone you know from being a victim."

Laura Gillies said: “I welcome the opportunity to be part of these discussions, particularly around the protection of adults who may be less able to protect themselves from exploitation and financial harm. Working in partnership with Police Scotland and Trading Standards makes us all better informed, more aware and more able to play our parts in making communities our safe places to live’.

The chat event is being virtually held on the Police Scotland Highland and Islands Facebook page (Police Scotland Highland and Islands Divisonal Facebook page) between 18:00 and 19:30 hours Tuesday 29th September.